How to make grey (concrete-like) buttercream with American Buttercream

[AllisonP]

I have to make grey (concrete like) buttercream. All the recipes have said use Swiss Meringue Buttercream (SMBC). Ive never made SMBC before and I’m panicking. Can I get the perfect shade of grey with American Buttercream? Any tips?

 

[retired baker]

American style already looks like concrete.

 

[chassis]

@AllisonP how did you make out? Success?

 

[AllisonP]

@AllisonP how did you make out? Success?

It turned out amazing!! I used sugar geeks easy buttercream recipe.

 

[Mona]

You can definitely get that concrete-like grey with American Buttercream! Start by using a bit of violet food coloring to cancel out the yellow from the butter. Then, slowly add black gel food coloring (gel works best because it’s more concentrated) until you reach the shade you want. You can also mix in a little blue or brown to make the grey look more concrete-like. Just add color slowly, as it can darken over time, and test on a small batch first. No need to switch to Swiss Meringue—your American Buttercream will work perfectly!

 

[Jessie_Roos]

Absolutely, you can make grey buttercream with American Buttercream, though it might take a bit of tweaking to get that perfect concrete-like shade. Here’s how you can approach it:

1. Start with a White Base: American Buttercream starts with a white base, so it's a good choice for achieving a true grey. Make sure your buttercream is well-mixed and smooth.
2. Add Gel Food Coloring: Use gel food coloring to achieve the shade of grey you want. Start with a small amount of black gel color and mix it in thoroughly. Black gel color is much more concentrated than liquid dye, so you won’t need as much.
3. Gradual Mixing: Add the gel color bit by bit. It’s easier to darken the color if needed, but once it's too dark, you might need to make a new batch.
4. Let It Rest: Sometimes the color will deepen slightly as the buttercream rests. So, after mixing in the color, let it sit for a bit before deciding if it needs more color.
5. Use a Tinting Guide: If you’re aiming for a specific shade of grey, you might find a color mixing guide helpful. This can assist you in getting a more accurate color mix.
6. Adjust Consistency: If you find the buttercream gets too dark and the consistency changes, you can adjust it by adding a bit more powdered sugar or a touch of milk.

Good luck with your grey buttercream! If you have any more questions or need further tips, feel free to ask.

 

[Mona]

Absolutely, you can achieve a great shade of grey with American Buttercream! Here are some tips to help you get that concrete-like color:

1. Start with a Base: Use a white American Buttercream as your base. Make sure your butter is at room temperature to ensure a smooth texture.
2. Coloring: Use gel food coloring instead of liquid, as gel provides a more vibrant color with less liquid. Start with a small amount of black gel color and mix it in thoroughly. Gradually add more until you reach your desired shade of grey. If it gets too dark, you can mix in a bit of white to lighten it.
3. Mixing: When adding color, mix well to avoid streaks. Scrape the sides of the bowl to ensure the color is evenly distributed.
4. Test and Adjust: It’s a good idea to test the color by spreading a small amount on a piece of parchment paper. This way, you can see how it looks once it’s spread out.
5. Add a Touch of Brown: For a more concrete-like hue, you might consider adding just a hint of brown gel coloring to tone down the grey a bit and make it more realistic.
6. Consistency: If you want a smoother finish, consider adding a bit of milk or cream to thin out the buttercream slightly.

Remember, practice makes perfect! You’ve got this! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.